Chapter 3: Julie's Escape
918 Words
[PEARL]
"Julie?" I asked, squinting my eyes.
"Pearl," she responded breathlessly, tears streaming down her face. She quickly ran to me, gave me an embrace, and burst into more tears.
Julie, my best friend turned sister. I've known her since I knew my name. I haven't seen Julie since I left Seattle and, of course, after running from that abusive relationship with that jerk, Damian. Seeing her in this state could only mean one thing. I'm not sure, but I'll have to find out from her.
"Hey, shhhh. It's okay. Let's go in." I hastily unlocked my door and rolled her box into the apartment. "Please make yourself comfortable. I need to go grab a quick shower, and I'll join you.”
After my shower, I handed her a cup of warm chocolate. "Are you okay?" I asked once more.
"I don't think I'm ready to talk about it," she responded in a sob.
"It's okay, Julie. Take all the time you need. My home is open to you. Let me show you to your room." I took her box to the spare room I keep for situations like this. I mean, you never know when you'll get a visitor, right?
The next day, after work, I got home and was welcomed by a sweet aroma from the kitchen. I dropped the groceries on the kitchen counter as I opened the pot to see what was cooking. Julie never ceases to amaze me.
After dinner, Julie and I began cleaning up.
"I'm ready to talk," she said, her eyes serious.
"Are you sure?" I asked, concerned.
"I ran from home," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"What do you mean?" I asked, concern etched on my face.
"Pearl, I wish I had run with you then. I was just being a coward. I wasn't willing to risk starting from nothing in a strange city. New York, for that matter." She paused, collecting her thoughts.
"You know, the man my father arranged my marriage with, he's dead."
I was gripped with shock. "What? What happened?”
"He got murdered in our apartment. He's been into some shady business lately. Anytime I ask him what the matter is, he takes out his frustration on me. He raises his hand on me on any slightest provocation."
“Oh no, you were going through all this in silence.” I pulled her into an embrace.
“Pearl, you're a strong woman. I watched you go through hell at the hands of Damian. I never understood until I found myself in the same situation.”
“It's okay. I'm glad you're free from him now. You can still start fresh from here. New York has a lot to offer you.”
“Do you still hear from your Dad?” Julie asked.
I exhaled, then gulped. “The day I told Dad I needed to run from Damian. He never supported me. He felt I was being childish. The moment I got to New York, I called him and he said if I don't return to Seattle, he's disowning me. That was the last time I heard from him.”
"Oh no, Pearl, come here." Julie embraced me in a warm hug, my tears soaking into her shirt. It felt like home, like a sense of security I hadn't known in years. Time passed by, and we sat there, holding each other, the silence between us speaking volumes. We eventually drifted off to sleep, exhausted from the emotional turmoil.
But the peace was short-lived. The doorbell rang, shattering the silence like a siren. My heart skipped a beat as I wondered who it could be. I wasn't expecting anyone, and Julie was already shaken. I got up, my mind racing with possibilities. "Let me get it," I said, trying to sound calm, but my voice trembled. Julie nodded, her eyes wide with fear, her grip on my hand tightening.
I walked to the door, my heart pounding in my chest like a drum. I grabbed a baseball bat from the corner, its weight comforting in my hands. I took a deep breath and opened the door, my eyes widening in terror...
And found myself face to face with Damian, his eyes blazing with anger and revenge. His presence was like a dark storm cloud, suffocating and menacing.
"You think you can escape me, Pearl?" he sneered, his voice dripping with malice, his words cutting through the air like a knife. "You think you can just leave me and start a new life?"
I gripped the bat tightly, ready to defend myself. I tried to slam the door shut, but he was too quick. He pushed his way inside, his eyes fixed on me with a sinister grin, his presence filling the room like a dark shadow.
"You're mine, Pearl. And I always get what's mine." I backed away, my heart racing with fear, my eyes darting around the room for an escape.
Julie tried to intervene, but Damian shoved her aside, his hand raised, his eyes flashing with anger. "This doesn't concern you, Julie. This is between me and Pearl."
I was trapped, with no escape. Damian's eyes were wild with rage, and I knew he would stop at nothing to claim me as his own. I was his obsession, and he would destroy anyone who stood in his way.
Just as he raised his hand to strike me, I raised the bat, ready to defend myself. But everything went black…
- Writer
